Sochi mayor: There are no gay people in our town

The mayor of Sochi says there are no homosexuals in his town (Picture: BBC)

The mayor of Sochi has claimed there are no gay people in his town, amid growing concerns about the safety of gay visitors to the Winter Olympics.

When challenged, Anatoly Pakhomov said that if there were homosexuals living in Sochi, he didn’t know them.

Russia has been criticised for its implementation of a law forbidding the promotion of ‘non-traditional sexuality’ to under-18s, which has widely been seen as a draconian attempt to curb the freedom of homosexuals in the country.

The Russian president say gays will be in no danger during the Winter Olympics in Russia (Picture: Reuters)

Speaking to BBC Panorama’s John Sweeney, Pakhomov ‘We don’t have them in our town.’

Asked whether he was sure about this, he replied: ‘I’m not sure. I don’t bloody know them.’

And as for whether gay people were welcome at the Winter Olympics, he added: ‘Our hospitality will be extended to everyone who respects the laws of the Russian Federation and who doesn’t impose their habits and their will on others. But yes, everyone is welcome.’

President Putin has said gay people are welcome in Sochi as long as they don’t spread what he calls ‘homosexual propaganda’.

Panorama: Putin’s Games airs on BBC1 tonight, Monday January 27 at 8.30pm.